CA utilities may be denied recouping their power costs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The state Public Utilities Commission is considering a proposal that two major California utilities not be allowed to increase customers’ bills to recover money they had to spend purchasing power from other sources after the San Onofre nuclear generating plant shut down.

Southern California Edison closed the plant along the central coast last year after a small radiation leak led to the discovery of extensive damage. Edison officials announced last June that the plant would not reopen.

PUC Commissioner Mike Florio said Monday customers of Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric shouldn’t have to cover the utilities’ added costs of securing power caused by the closure — at least not until the PUC finishes investigating what happened.